Happy little Vegemite Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Hi all, Just wondering how many people are planning special things, or did special things, for their last Christmas in the UK? I'm interested in hearing your stories! We've just booked a hotel for a long weekend in London to take in the sights and sounds of the christmas lights as well as winter wonderland in Hyde park and I'm soooo excited! I want to give the kids some lovely memories of their last cold christmas to bring to Oz with them. Well that's my excuse anyway, and I'm sticking to it! Cath :anisanta::snowman7: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Hi Cath! We're going to Winter Wonderland on Saturday with some friends and no kids so we've no excuse!! Hubby and I also have another day out in London booked just before Xmas when we are having lunchtime Thames Cruise followed by watching War Horse in the evening! Christmas itself is all about the family - all 13 of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Aw..have a super time We Didnt know our last UK Xmas was to be our last... Not sure if it had made a difference....I had always fancied a Xmas in the sun.....and now we've had one and we all say it was the best Xmas ever... even tonight I've been out to our local shopping centre Garden City...and yes it's festive... but no stupid crowds....not in your face pressure.. Then I called at Coles on the way home....was only in for a few mins...but the song playing was Oasis Wonderwall.. I love it...I hope it never gets to the stupid commercialism of the UK .. Here its a holiday...firms close...spend time with your friends or family if your lucky.. a end of the year time to recharge your batteries... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beandownunder Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 I'm not sure if it will be our last Christmas in the uk and if honest am probably pleased I don't know as it takes off the pressure of thinking "this is the last time we will....." I truly hope it will be our last one but at least by not knowing we can enjoy it without the family thinking we won't be around next year. I was supposed to be working on Christmas day so mum said she would cook for us- now I'm not working but she's still cooking- result!hope hope you all have a great time and make every second count ( kids or no kids Nikki ) just have fun! xxxx fifi- Christmas aus- style sounds just amazing, hoping for chrimbo 2014 down under xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Yet again Christmas is nearly upon me and I haven't had chance to plan anything and I'm completely unprepared. I think the media brings on this guilt as years ago I'm sure we didn't have all this hype and months of preparation. Looks like I will be doing my Xmas shopping the weekend before Xmas in a mad dash into town. Actually you know it isn't so bad as so many shops now reduce stock during the week before Christmas so I'm bound to snap up a few bargains. As for Xmas day I think MIL and the wrinkles are coming to ours for lunch so I'll be ordering another hamper online delivered to my door containing everything I will need for Christmas lunch My mum is devastated by our pending move but strangely she isn't making a big deal about spending Xmas with us this year. My parents are visiting the week before so I may try and book Sunday lunch out at a very nice hotel...better get my skates on! Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenPen Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Sounds amazing!! We had Christmas in OZ last year and it was really nice….a little odd being hot and lazing in the pool and I missed my family and the traditions we do - I found it a bit boring at times and everyone slept which I didn't expect, but then my family always has a party type atmosphere and we play games and go for a walk so it was a bit of a shell shock!! I hope this will be our last living in the UK but we shall see……I am on call and highly likely that I will get called out on Christmas day so I sort of hope we get to have another before we leave so I can drink and have a proper good JP Christmas with all my family and hoping there will be the pitter patter of tiny feet from my lovely sister to snuggle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayloal Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Well Christmas will no sooner be finished with and I will be out of the UK, flight is booked for 2nd January. Will it be my last here? I don't know..............................I might come back on holiday for one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest10912 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 We didn't know our last Christmas would be our last Christmas. We did get our visa in December and that Christmas was the last, but we were thinking we might not move for a few years even. My advice is definitely to make it something really special and enjoy it with the extended family. Christmas in UK is far superior to Christmas here in my experience. It is a bit of a non event, other than yes of course people take time off. But it just does not have the same feel in the run up, the shopping malls aren't tinkling Christmas tunes, you don't see people laden down with bags of shopping and Christmas lights just don't really have the same effect in the middle of summer. At my place the works Christmas parties might be in November if that is more convenient for whomever is organising it and hardly anyone turns up. I compare to the annual black tie balls I used to attend in London, that was a Christmas party! I have visitors for Christmas this year and will be doing my best to host a traditional Aussie Christmas, walk on beach and morning swim, seafood platter and mango pavlova are order of the day. I would definitely be looking to coincide one of my return trips to UK with Christmas on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odies Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 it's funny until reading these posts I have enjoyed the last 2 christmas days in Oz.and enjoyed them, grandchildren to see etc. But had all the run up in the u.k. best of both worlds and I never realised it , I love christmas the rushing about, the seeing everyone ,the drink parties, the trees, the lights, the happiness with everyone at a special time , looks like I will have to come back in december. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy little Vegemite Posted November 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 Ooh yeah, I forgot to mention that we're also going to panto (oh yes we are!) the weekend before Christmas. And we'll be going to my last ever works Christmas black tie dinner and dance, which I'm sure will get a bit messy by the end of the night! Like you Nikki Christmas Day will be all about the extended family (in-laws) we've got 8 or 9 coming, chaotic but hopefully enjoyable! Next year should be equally as enjoyable in Oz when we can spend it with my extended family, yay! Right result that your mum is cooking, beandownunder! Happy planning everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odies Posted November 23, 2013 Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 have a question .. I may have my plaster off christmas week , will know on dec 2nd. would you book a christmas dinner here in the uk ? fly out to Oz to arrive christmas day evening ? as my other son is at his in laws spend it by ourselves and watch uk christmas day tv ? thoughts ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skit78 Posted November 23, 2013 Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 We have a last crimbo with the family and then Boxing Day we fly :0) so going to have a crimbo BBQ feast when in perth . All the best to you all have a great time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miamai Posted November 23, 2013 Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 If you're in London I really recommend Winter Wonderland! I had such a great time last year I ended up spending the entire weekend going back!!! This is my last Christmas (for a little while anyway!) I have somehow secured a massive 5 days off over Xmas! I plan to spend time with my family and closest friends and just enjoy the time My uncle emailed me from Perth this morning, telling me about the Perth Christmas tree and It took a little while for it to settle in that it's hot there at Christmas!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancy Posted November 23, 2013 Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 This is our last Christmas here too. Decided to have it on our own... Paul always makes me eggs Benedict for breakfast with some champagne, then get up and open presents have a long walk with the dogs and watch old movies for the rest of the day... And no doubt spend the day talking about what next year will be like. Hope everyone has a great time and it's another step closer to reaching our dreams. X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted November 24, 2013 Report Share Posted November 24, 2013 Same as others, we didn't know it would be our last Christmas in the UK. We only thought about Oz in April and were here in August. I think if we had known we'd have done something to ensure it really felt like Christmas - cold and snowy. I always loved Iceland and the kids have never been so it would have been nice to take them there, Oslo or Copenhagen. I do find that Christmas here takes place in December. I don't watch much TV or shop in supermarkets so not really exposed to the marketing machine but in the UK Christmas just got earlier and earlier. Since I don't believe in a god the whole thing makes me feel a little uncomfortable anyway so I find it a whole lot more agreeable here than the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy little Vegemite Posted November 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 have a question .. I may have my plaster off christmas week , will know on dec 2nd. would you book a christmas dinner here in the uk ? fly out to Oz to arrive christmas day evening ? as my other son is at his in laws spend it by ourselves and watch uk christmas day tv ? thoughts ? Oooh, that's a toughie, not sure what I'd do but think I would be tempted to fly to Oz. I guess it would depend on how long you are planning on going for, how well you deal with jet lag and how old the grandkids in Oz are, if they will be up and having fun when you get there, or if they will be tired and cranky? Not long now until you find out about your plaster, fingers crossed for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odies Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 thanks vegemite, I have been looking at christmas cruises , staying in London, most decent restaurants are booked christmas day and the cost os flying which surprised me there is a 3 day window when it is half price nearly. Looking forward to next week to know a little more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 We went to Winter Wonderland on Saturday and pleased to report it's as good as ever. No Fun House for us this year but we made sure to visit the Bavarian Village for a Stein of Beer. Just a point to note for those of you who might go. If you book the skating make sure you turn up earlier than the 20 minutes prior to the session that the ticket states. The sessions are huge. Fortunately we got there a bit early and were near the front, but the queue went on for miles behind us. It also means that the ice gets really busy mid-session once everyone's stopped hanging onto the sides!! Still a fantastic time had by all though - and sort of wish we'd bought tickets for the Magical Ice Kingdom. Definitely started getting us into the Christmas spirit! :reindeer1::snowman3::elf: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy little Vegemite Posted November 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Thanks for the tip about the ice-skating, we are all getting very excited now! Not sure if we'll last the whole skating session or not, depends how much of a natural my 5 year old is at skating, or how much he doesn't mind falling on his butt again and again! We've booked tickets for the ice kingdom so I'll let you know if it's any good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancslass Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Our first few Christmas days here felt amazing. We loved that it was hot and we could just relax and do what we liked without having to rush around and visit family or watch the traditional Bond movie and Queens speech. There is no huge build up here and the schools don't really seem to get into the Christmas spirit with the kids, it's more end of term excitement it all seemed very chilled with not really any tradition. Now, years later, we so miss Christmas in the UK. Really miss the atmosphere that is so lacking here and more than anything we miss spending Christmas day visiting family and friends and the kids feeling that it isn't just another day in summer. We miss 15 of us around the table all on different size chairs! Watching the kids play with their cousins and the men all sneaking out to have a quick traditional Christmas drink in the local country pub, shaking hands with everyone they pass in the street and wishing them Merry Christmas. Christmas is good here but very, very different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Every time I read the title of this thread, I really can't help singing a few bars of the song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy little Vegemite Posted December 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 We went to Winter Wonderland on Saturday and pleased to report it's as good as ever. No Fun House for us this year but we made sure to visit the Bavarian Village for a Stein of Beer. I wish I'd enquired with you as to your reasons for no 'fun house' this year Nikki, I took the kids in and needless to say it was the worst £13 spent on the entire weekend, the children were not amused! The ice kingdom was fantastic, but yet again, the smallest child was not amused, too cold (I did think this was going to be the case so I wasn't too surprised!). The Bavarian village was great come the evening, the atmosphere was lovely. Ice skating was fun too, my son lasted about 35 minutes before he wanted to get off the ice and he really enjoyed himself, so that was a success. I think my all time favourite best discovery of the weekend though was hot chocolate with a shot of baileys, how have I never tried this before, delicious!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmy Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 well we have just had our last xmas in England, my hubbie missed it as he works away. it was a bit strange as couldn't get the kids a lot as all has to go in the case, we don't have our own furniture as ours in now in Australia in storage! All my hubbies family came to mine, so I had to cook for 14 of us with very little pans etc...... and all squeeze round a tiny table! they all came, ate the food, sat for an hour then left!!! so then it was just me, my kids and my dad! it was ok but to be honest I am quite looking forward to xmas in the sunshine! From what I have seen on the internet the Christmas markets look lovely with all the lights and im looking forward to not being freezing cold! the weather has been rubbish here wet,wild and windy! So I am actually really looking forward to next yr at the beach, pool and then maybe a barby later on or I will prob do the traditional dinner later on when its cooler! And if I crave a cold, family xmas we will come home and let everyone else cook for a change lol!!! hope you all had a great xmas! next major thing for me is my 10yr old gorgeous black Labrador flies on new yr eve, fingers crossed for me she will be ok! cant believe we only have 9days left in the uk EEKKKKK!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akasully2 Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Our last Christmas here too. Consciously trying to make it count but to be honest it's just the same old thing. Christmas Eve was preparing the food and cleaning the house. The big day was spent in the kitchen cooking until serving up. I then fell asleep by 8:30pm because I had drank so much champagne. I think I could swap that for a day at the beach! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebradeb Posted December 28, 2013 Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 Our last one too. Its strange how this dream of a new life takes over ever bit of time for years and then it finally happens and it doesn't seem real. We have so very much to do, busy trying to get all of those jobs completed on the house that we have lived with for years, but wont encourage a sale! Worried about too many things. In some many ways these last few months seem to be the most stressful.... need a fast forward button me thinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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